Description

‘Epic history as it is meant to be written!’ Simon Sebag Montefiore

‘A sweeping and panoramic account of the first great superpower rivalry – a definitive account.’ Tom Holland

The Roman empire was like no other. Stretching from the north of Britain to the Sahara, and from the Atlantic coast to the Euphrates, it imposed peace and prosperity on an unprecedented scale.

Its only true rival lay in the east, where the Parthian and then Persian empires ruled over great cities and the trade routes to mysterious lands beyond. This was the region Alexander the Great had swept through, creating a dream of glory and conquest that tantalized Greeks and Romans alike. Tracing seven centuries of conflict between Rome and Persia, Adrian Goldsworthy shows how these two great powers evolved together. Despite their endless clashes, trade between the empires enriched them both, and a mutual respect prevented both Rome and Persia from permanently destroying the other.

Epic in scope, The Eagle and the Lion reshapes our understanding of one of the greatest rivalries of world history.

Publisher Review

Epic history as it is meant to be written! A splendid book that tells the story of the great imperial rivalry of the ancient world with narrative Elan, scholarly authority and a cast of extraordinary characters. * Simon Sebag Montefiore * A sweeping and panoramic account of the first great superpower rivalry – a definitive account. * Tom Holland * A wise and wonderful book, on a historical topic that still speaks to us today. Goldsworthy is a brilliant scholar and an excellent narrator, and here he is at the height of his powers. This book is not to be missed. * Barry Strauss * Meticulous yet sweeping in scope, this is a major contribution to the understanding of a significant period in world history. * Publishers Weekly * Compelling reading… highlighting the enormous cost of two cultures dead set on conquest and triumph * BBC History Revealed * PRAISE FOR PHILIP AND ALEXANDER:

‘As successful in meeting its ambitions as Philip’s kingship, as sweeping as Alexander’s conquests’ Tom Holland.

‘By pairing the two giants of Macedonia, Goldsworthy helps the reader understand Alexander’s life all the better, and sheds light on the achievements and character of Philip’ Aspects of History.

‘Contributes significantly to making these scholarly developments accessible to a very wide audience, through engaging narratives which capture the political complexity of the Greek world’ TLS.

‘Sterling scholarship, engaging prose, insightful analysis, and unbiased assessment’ * Victor Davis Hanson. *